What Is A DSE Assessment? – A Simple Guide
We find that many workers up and down the country don’t know what a DSE assessment is let alone their importance when it comes to ensuring comfort whilst at work. Unless you work in the health and safety, HR or ergonomics world, DSE assessments are often overlooked.
A DSE assessment is a display screen equipment assessment. They are designed to be carried out on anyone who uses a screen for more than an hour at a time. This can include a laptop, mobile, tablet or desktop. A DSE assessment may also be called a VDU (visual display unit) assessment.
What is a DSE assessment?
A DSE assessment helps employees to work comfortably when using display screen equipment. An assessment is carried out when the user is at their workstation. This enables the assessor to get a snapshot of how the individual works on a daily basis.
From here, the DSE assessor can make observations about how the person is sitting, if they are using the most appropriate equipment for them and if it is positioned correctly. They will also ask questions and give the customer the opportunity to explain any problems they may be experiencing. This could include a bad back or aching shoulders for example. If any improvements can be made to the workstation whilst the assessor is there, they will make adjustments to equipment.
After an assessment is carried out, a full written report will then be sent which explains what changes to the workstation have been made and what equipment would be beneficial (if necessary).
DSE Workstation Assessment – UK Government
What are the benefits?
Having a DSE assessment has many short- and long-term benefits. Not only does it ensure you can work comfortably but, it also encourages correct posture. With most office-based and now also home-based workers spending upwards of 8 hours a day at their computer screens, it is easy for posture to be compromised. Having a DSE assessment can help to rectify this.
Not only does having a DSE assessment improve comfort but, it also boosts employee morale. After all, a healthy workforce is a happy workforce. Employees who feel valued are more likely to be happier at work and as a result more productive. This all stems from the feeling of being appreciated and looked after. Look after your staff and they’ll look after you.
Cut costs and meet Health & Safety obligations
Longer term benefits of a DSE assessment centre around costs. The cost of a DSE assessment is much lower than the cost of covering an absence from work. Studies have shown that the UK economy lost £91.9bn as a result of ill-health related absenteeism in the workplace. On top of this, 6.9 million working days were lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the year 2018/2019. Statistics like this prove how much of an impact work related ill health can have on absenteeism and the cost to businesses.
As well as helping to cut the cost of absences, DSE assessments help businesses remain in line with Health and Safety obligations. Regardless of where employees are working, employers still have the same responsibilities. They need to ensure all members of staff’s health and safety is considered. By law, employers must ‘protect your workers from the health risks of working with display screen equipment (DSE), such as PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.’
This law means that workers must:
- Do a DSE workstation assessment
- Reduce risks, including making sure workers take breaks from DSE work or do something different
- Provide an eye test if a worker asks for one
- Provide training and information for workers.
Ensuring your employees have a DSE assessment means that as a business, you are meeting legal requirements that ensure everyone within your workforce can carry out their role comfortably.
Our DSE assessment services
At VergoUK, we pride ourselves on working with a range of customers from one person start ups to global corporations. We are able to scale any of our services. This means our DSE offerings can be tailored to suit you and your needs.
With DSE assessors based around the country, we can provide both face to face and remote assessments. Our remote assessments can be carried out via video or phone call, whichever your preference. We also provide an online DSE assessment solution which is ideal for larger departments or companies which is very popular as it cuts admin times and costs.
Whether you’d like one DSE assessment carrying out or, your entire team assessing, we are able to help. If you have a team of staff that need help with their workstation set-ups, we also provide a half and full day DSE service. Here we can assess a number of staff in one ‘sweep’. This solution is cost effective as it means there isn’t a charge per assessment rather, for a full or half day depending on the number of people are to be assessed.
If you have any questions about any of our DSE solutions or would like to book with us, fill out the form below or, contact us and we’d be more than happy to assist.